The value of the long hurdles has exploded

Because after the Dimna runner's breakthrough with gold in the World Championships 2017, the arrow has pointed straight up for the exercise. Karsten Warholm has been central to this; through gold in the Olympics, World and European Championships - and a fantastic world record. And through tough duels.

After being dethroned in Eugene last summer and moved to fifth on the World Rankings, the 27-year-old enters this year's World Championships-season in an attacking mode. We will get the first answer on where he stands on 15 June.

And even if classic opponents such as Aderrahman Samba, Rai Benjaminand Alison dos Santos are not on the starting line at Bislett, there is just as much a class field that meets.

The American Khallifa Rosser is ranked number two in the world with a personal record from last year of 47.59, the Frenchman Wilfred Happio as number four and the Estonian Rasmus Magi as number six. Happio was silver medallist in the last European Championships, fourth in the World Championships and has a personal record of 47.41, while Magi, who also has silver from the European Championships, has 47.82.

But there is more because the ranking does not always say everything.

Add the Americans Trevor Bassitt with World Championships bronze in 47.39 last summer and a seventh position on the World Rankings, his countryman CJ Allen who has started the season with 47.93 in Doha which brought him up to an eight place on the ranking and the up-and-coming Swede Carl Bengström and you understand that this year's Oslo Bislett Games will give a very good indication of where the Norwegian World Record holder stands when entering the 2023 outdoor season. Not least CJ Allen made a big impression when he followed Benjamin all the way to the door in Doha.